Combining superpowers with the supernatural, “The Messengers” hopes to capture the best of both themes in a show that focuses on five strangers who are tasked with saving the world from the apocalypse. With underdeveloped characters and underwhelming performances, this show, if not the world, is in trouble.

Two armed men who opened fire on a security officer outside of a provocative contest for cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad have been killed, authorities in the Dallas suburb of Garland said Sunday night.

I have an invisible cookie jar of column ideas (‘column jar’ doesn’t sound as fun). It sits on a laminate counter in my mind and is typically filled with topical flavors of chocolate chip, macadamia and oatmeal raisin. But...